Sprocket chain



C. L. BEST.

SPROCKET CHAIN. APPLICATION FILED JULY 16,1920.

EAQQAQQ. Patented Aug. 1,1922.

, 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

C. L. BEST.

SPROCKET CHAIN;

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16.1920.

94:2%g442 D t k 1 Patented Aug. 1-,

2 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

one of the struts.

CLARENCE LEO BEST, OF ELMHURST, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 BEST GAS TRACTION gcomranv, OF SAN NERO,- CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF oamroanm.

sraooxm onem.

Patented Aug. 1, 11922.

Application filed July 16, 1920. Serial No. 396,819.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, CLARENCE LE0 Been a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmhurst, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new-and useful Improvements in'Sprocket Chains, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. M This invention relates to improvements in sprocket chains and especially to chains for endless track devices of traction engines which employ hinge pintles or bearing members constructed as separate parts and secured in openings in the links. The object of the invention is to provide an improved chain of the type referred to,

I to provide improved means for securing the separately formed hinge members in the socket openings bf the links that will pre-.

vent the' hinge members fromworking loose from the' links, and that will be adjustable to compensate for hinge members of different sizes'in cross section, ness or imperfection in casting or wear, whereby cast metal structures may be em ployed without the preparatory machine work and grinding usually required, and a more durable construction is afforded with a material saving in the-cost of production.

The invention, with other objects and advantages thereof, and the particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts comprisingthe same will be understood from the hereinafter contained detail description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and illustrating one embodiment of the invention. In the'drawings:-; Figure 1 is a transverse section through a chain link constructed in accordance with the present invention, the view being taken fromv thev position occu ied by the link in the upper run of the c ain.

-Figure 2 is a side elevation. I 1

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a stretch of chain, with parts shown in horizontal section. Y

Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section of Figure 5 is an end view of the strut.

Figure 6fis a detail end elevationof the 1 strut and wedge member.

construction illustrated in 'Fi Figure 7 is a detail longitudinal section of the wedge member .ofFi 3.

Frgure 8 is a detail en elevation of a mod 1fied form of wedge member.

F1gure 9 is a longitudinal section of the 8. Figure 10 is a detail view i llustrating the wedge member of Figs. 11 and 12 apphed.

F1gure .11 is a detail view of an end portion of one of the side linkinembers illustrat ng a slightly modified form of strut.

Figure 12 is a detail end elevation of the strut and. wedge member illustrated in Flg. 11.

Figure 13 is a detail longitudinal section of the wedge member of Fi 11.

Fig. 14 is a detail view 9 an end portion of one of the side link members showing a further modified form of strut.

Referring particularly to. Figs. 1 to 90f the drawings, the construction shown com-' prises link members, each consisting of spaced side plates 1, 1, between which at one secured at each of its ends to the side p ates, said sleeve or tubular block 2 and the side plates 1, 1, 1n the present instance, being due to rough-a end is aisleeve or tubular block 2 ri 'dly shown in the form of a single casting, the

slde plates or members 1, 1 having inward offset portions 1* and being arranged in the overlapping relation shown, the plates hav- 1ng hpper track bars 1 and aper'tured lugs .1, to whlch latter-are secured tread plates 3 by bolts or other suitable fastenings 4.

Between the two plates at the opposite ends from the location of the sleeve or tubular block 2 is a hinge bearing member 5. The hin 'e bearing member 5, which in th1s partlcuar instance is shown circular [1D cross sect1on, is of a'diameter to fit and work within the sleeve or tubularblock 2, the latter hav ng a cylindrical inner face to correspond with the cross sectional form of thehinge member 5, the hinge member being r1g1dly secured at each of its ends to the side plates 1, 1.v

The'improved means, provided in accordance with the present invention for fixed ly securmg the separate strut members in the socket o wings of the chain links, compr1ses a; we ge member adapted to be arranged ill the socket opening between a wall thereof and 'a wall of the strut or bearing member. The'side plates or members 1, 1,

socket openings 7 are of general circular shape to receive the cylindrical end portions of the struts, and the wall of the socket opening at one side is cut away, as shown, (see especially Fig. 3 of the drawings) to receive the wedge member,'a n inwardly inclined curved wall 7 being provided at one side of the socket opening.

-The wedge member is in the "form of a plate part 9, partly circular in cross section and tapering transversely from its central part to its side edges, having curved side faces 9, 9". The plate part 9 tapers longitudinally the outer face 9 of the plate being inc ined as shown to the inner face 9 of the plate, the outer face 9" being adapted to work upon theinclined wall 7 of the socket opening, and the inner face 9 to engage the curved face of the strut. At one end the wedge member has an integral lat erally projecting portion 7 3 provided with a centrally disposed aperture 7', said laterall projecting part 7 when" the wedge mem er is placed in position in the socket of'the link members, engaging a threaded stem 10 projecting longitudinally fromone -end of the s'trut or hearing member 5. I l-he end portions of the struts 5 are shown provided with threaded sockets 5 in which the threaded stems 10 are adjustably seated. 11 designates a clampnut on the stem. As will be understood by turning up the nut 11, the same will abut against the laterally pro- I jecting-part 9*? of the wedge member and Figs. 8, 9, 10

that previously described exceptthat' the r vided with a flat inclined wall 14 force the 'wedge member transversely. of the socket to tightly bind the strut or bearing member against the wall of the socket open- The modified construction illustrated in is substantially the same as socket openings 12 in the links 13 are proat-one side, and the wedge plate 15 is shaped, as shown, with a flat outer inclined face 15 ate with the fiat inclined wall socket opening.

In" the modification illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, the construction of-wedge' illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, is shown applied to a modified form of strut or bearing member. In these Figures, 17 designates a portion of one side plate or link member provided with a substantially semicircular shaped socket 17, and 18 designates the strut or hearing member, in this instance the wedge member being located at the side of 13 of the that cooperates with a radially arranged rib 19 of the tubular sleeve or block 19. The rib 19* extends t'o'the axis of the. sleeve and is tapered, as shown, from a to cooper-.

point near its base to the outer end thereof providing relatively broad bearing faces 19" at each side, and an intermediate knife-edge bearing 19. The strut or bearing member 18 is adapted to Work within the-sleeve or tubular block 19, and cooperate with the rib 19 to afford a rolling contact between the parts at the axial center of hinge motion of the links.

'The special construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore described provides simple, efiicient means for firmly securing the separate struts or bearing members in tion and variation in the size of the socket openings in cast structures, whereby cast metal parts may be employed without the finishing machine work ordinarily required, and a more durable, less expensive chain is provided.

What I claim is 1. In a sprocket chain; link members, means for hinging adjacent link members together comprising a pair of cooperating transversely extending bearing members,

one on each link, the bearing member of one link bein formed as a separate art, and the link Eaving a socket opening 1n which an end portion of the bearing member seats, a wedge member extending transversely of the link member in the socket opening thereof between a wall of the socket openin and a wall of the bearing member for adjustment longitudinally thereof, means for ad-. justing the wedge member including a threaded shank projecting longitudinally from one end of the bearing member, said wedge member having a laterally projecting portion at one end, and a nut on the stem adapted to engage said laterally projecting portion,

2. In a sprocket chain, means for hlnging adjacent link members together comprising a pair of cooperating transversely exten i one on 'each link, the bearing member of one link bein formed as a separate part, and the link aving a socket opening in which an end portion of the bearing member seats a wedge member extending transversely of the:link member in the socket opening therelink members,

ng bearing members,

of between a wall of the socket opening and member for adjuster'eof, means for ad'- member' including a,

erally projecting apertured part engaging the stem, and a nut on the stem adapted to engage said laterally projecting portion.'

3. In a sprocket chain, link members, means for hinging adjacent link members together comprising a pair of cooperating the link member in the socket opening between :1 wall thereof and a Wall of the bearing member for adjustment longitudinally thereof, and means for adjusting the wedge member including a threaded socket in one end of the bearing member, a threaded stem part adjustably seated in said socket, and a nut on the stem part adapted to engage the wedge member.

4. In a sprocket chain, link members, means for hinging adjacent link members together comprising a pair of cooperating transversely extending bearing members, one on each link, the bearing member of one link being formed as a separate part and having an end portion circular in cross section, and a link having a socket opening to receive said end portions, said socket opening being of general circular form, the wall of said socket having a recess provided with a curved inclined Wall at one side thereof, a segmental shaped Wedge plate tapering transversely from its central part toward its side edges, said plate having transversely curved inner and outer faces, and the plate also tapering longitudinally having an outer inclined wall adapted to engage the curved inclined wall of said recess, and means for adjusting said Wedge plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.-

CLARENCE LEO BEST.

Witnesses: "RC. FORGE,

' --C. F. BRIGHAM. 

